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The future is now in Lakewood. We’ve done our homework. We’ve gathered all the facts. We’ve heard from the residents we represent. We are ready to make our recommendation on how to improve the health of our community. It is our hope to have an agreement in place by the end of 2015 so that 2016 will launch the innovative programs that deliver the kind of health care our citizens need most.
Responsive to residents. We know what our constituents are most concerned about—they’ve told us they want more personalized care; they want more opportunity to work with doctors and nurses to get healthier; they want to make sure there’s help if they get into trouble; and they want to be involved in how health care is improved in our city.
This agreement delivers on all fronts:
o Wellness and outreach programs, even reaching into the home.
o Access to an emergency department 24/7/365
o Emergency and health services tailored for mental health and chemical dependency
o Residents involved in designing and monitoring the progress of health and wellness programs
A platform for Lakewood to become a true pioneer in how communities care for their residents. We’ve spent months hearing from experts in health care. We’ve learned a lot about the difference between caring for sick people and keeping people well. This agreement means a unique partnership between a community, its doctors and other health care providers that will put Lakewood on the national map as a place where people can live better and live longer.
Accountability is key to delivering on the promise. We’ve baked into the agreement accountability for improving the health of our residents. With the use of new technology, we can measure if people are getting healthier—is their asthma managed? Are they losing weight? Are there fewer complications from diabetes? We will know what works and what doesn’t, and we will share outcomes openly with our community and others.
When there is an emergency, you can still get treated in Lakewood. The emergency department at Lakewood Hospital will remain fully operational until a new emergency department is built at the new family health center across the street. Every day, every hour, doctors and nurses will be ready to treat emergencies like heart attacks and strokes. There is also a new mobile stroke unit that could respond to potential stroke emergencies at someone’s home (with diagnostic and treatment capabilities). If inpatient care is needed, patients will be transported to the closest, most appropriate fullservice hospital. Most emergencies do not require hospital inpatient admission.
Making good use of community assets. As difficult as it is to watch what was a community asset (Lakewood Hospital) become a liability, it is a reality we must face. It became too expensive to keep an aging hospital up‐to‐date and safely delivering care. We were understandably worried that the operators of the hospital (LHA) would run out of money, and the City would be left with an empty building and no health care. That would truly saddle taxpayers with an enormous liability and future expenses. Now, we can use the land where the hospital was built for development that will bring new businesses and jobs to our community.
Funding our future and a vibrant new downtown district. The new agreement means the Cleveland Clinic will pay $34 million for a modern family health center (replacing an office building that is only 25% occupied) and a new emergency department. Demolishing the old parking garage is part of the agreement, which spares Lakewood taxpayers a $5 million expense in repairs that were pending. The Clinic will also provide $7 million to be used as the City sees fit to redevelop the land where the hospital currently sits. Our residents have already shared their ideas to develop that land into new retail, office and housing opportunities.
Read the entire press package here:
http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media ... 532988.pdf
Read the entire press package here:
http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media ... 532988.pdf